A place to don your cape

Game convention brings out inner wizards, ninjas

Sean Benoit donned the costume Sunday for a volunteer security role
at the RealmsCon gaming convention.

The Texas A&M University-Kingsville student said even in the sea
of cartoon characters, wizards and caped individuals, there had been no
disturbances.

"I would say it has run pretty smooth today," said Benoit, speaking
through a hooded black mask that revealed only blue eyes and a freckled
nose. "Real smooth."

Although Benoit is not versed in the martial arts, he was a part of
the fantasy-ridden atmosphere at the three-day convention geared toward
Japanese animation, gaming and comic-book fans. Organizer Daniel
Velasquez said the event, held this year at the Omni Marina Hotel,
brings out the gaming lovers in Corpus Christi.

"Something like this usually doesn't happen in South Texas," said
Velasquez, a one-time car salesman.

Velasquez estimated at least 1,500 people attended the three-day
convention, which also brought 500 guests to the hotel.

"You will see a mix of everybody here, young and old," he said.

Del Mar College student Jerry Henson, 26, said he felt like one of
the older attendees - his walk of authority showed it.

Although not a security member, he traversed the convention ballroom
wearing camouflage fatigues, a headset and black gloves as he carried a
fake assault weapon propped up in his arm, faced toward the
ceiling.

"Ever since I saw "Aliens" when I was 6 I wanted to be a colonial
marine," Henson said, before a friend walked up to him, lightly hit him
on the arm with a baton and asked, "What are you going to do about it,
soldier boy?"

Henson, who studies aviation maintenance, insisted that his interest
in intergalactic colonialism does not interfere with his everyday
activities.

"I try not to geek it up too much," he said. "I do have a life."

Along with comic book vendors, martial arts demonstrations, video
games and action figures, Asian-themed vendors had a strong presence at
the convention. Singer Lisa Furukawa, who was born in Japan and now
lives in North Carolina, sold copies of her "Reaching the Dragon" album
at the event.

"One of the great things about the convention is the interest you
find in Japanese culture," said Furukawa, who is of Japanese and
Scottish descent. "I feel honored to be almost like a cultural liaison
here. Plus, I'm also an anime geek and comic junkie."

Benoit, who said he can do everything in his ninja costume "twice as
great" as he can in his normal clothes, also said the event gave him a
rare occasion that appealed to his interests.

Besides his love of gaming, however, he struggled to think of much
else.

"I like to play paintball," he said, tilting his hooded head upward
in thought. "Geez, what else do I do?"